Car construction



\NVENTOR JOHN (lNEkKIRK.

Patented Oct. 24, I933 STATES CAR CONSTRUCTION John Neikirk, Chicago,111., assignor to Rodger Ballast Car Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Maine Application January 10, 1931. Serial No. 507,773

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved construction for railroad cars ofthe type employing a plow which is drawn longitudinally through aplurality of cars for discharging the lading laterally from the carthrough openings provided by hinged or door-like side walls.

It is an object of this invention to provide a car construction which isadapted for use with discharging plows of usual and standard con- 10struction and dimension and yet to provide additional space or carryingcapacity throughout the body of the car.

It is a further object of this invention to provide certain novel andimproved features of construction' whereby a better and stronger car isproduced including simple and efficient lateral guide means for theplow.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a car of the abovedescribed type in which uide means are provided for the plow which notonly serve well in service for guiding the plow but also enter into theconstruction of the car to produce a stronger and more durablestructure. It is a further object of the present invention to providecertainimproved structural features such as sloping discharge surfacesand associated parts wherein the principles of the present invention maybe embodied in an efficient and practical construction which isrelatively simple as to form and inexpensive to manufacture andmaintain.

These and other objects not specifically enumerated are contemplated forthe present invention as will hereinafter more readily appear to oneskilled in the art as the following description proceeds. I

The disclosure herein given is merely for the purpose of illustrationand is not to be considered as limiting the invention in any respect asthe scope of the invention should be determined from an understanding ofthe present disclosure and an appreciation of the advantages which theinvention produces therein.

The following descriptionmay be more readily understood by referring tothe accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational transverse view in cross section, of arailroad car constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2.is a View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the combined plow-guide andbracing pieceemployed in the illustratedrform of the present invention.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of the presentdisclosure, it will assist in understanding the present invention torealize that a large number of cars of this type are now employed incommercial practice. These cars have utility in various uses, forinstance, the conveyance of tree stumps, or other large and bulkyladings possessing irregular shape, and not requiring special or carefulhandling in loading and unloading operations. These cars, as a type,have been used with good success for a long period of years and practicehas shown that the life of plows used for unloading the cars exceedsthat of cars subjected to substantially the same use. The result hasbeen that the replacement of cars from time to time has involved thenecessity of accommodating the construction of the car to use with oldplows already, possessed by the users, as economy has demanded that thefull life of the plows be availed of. g

As time vhas passed, the replacement of cars and plows has consistentlyinvolved a consideration of adapting the plows to the cars on hand andthe cars to, the plows on hand and consequently it is still a matter ofextreme importance to provide a car construction which is capable of usewith a standard and old type of plow. A peculiarity arises in the factthat cars as origi-- nally built were'of less width than those now indemand and consequently the problem which is now present and which issolved by the present invention is that of increasing the capacity ofthe cars in accordance with modern demand without sacrificing theadvantage of utilizing the standard and narrow gaged plow.

With these considerations in mind, the construction of the disclosedcarwill be described.-

By referring to the drawing, it will be noted that thepresent inventionis illustrated as embodied in a car having a suitable under carriage 10,supported on wheels 11 which are in turn mounted on the track rails 12.The under carthe floor 18, disposed centrally of the car. In theillustrated form, the flooring is also supported on the element 19 whichis carried on the upper edges of the center sills 13.

The side sills it are illustrated as supporta from the under carriage1%, by means of brackets 20, secured by suitable rivets 21 to the outerends of the under carriage. Extending upwardly from the center sills areside stakes 22 which are preferably formed in the manner shown in Figure2.

Here it will be noted the side stake 22 comprises two angle piecesplaced together and held suitable means such as rivets 23. The sidestakes are strengthened by means of the diagonal brace 24, which extendsdiagonally upwardly and outwardly from the under carriage 10 to the sidestakes, the brace extending between the two angle pieces constitutingthe side stake. and there held by suitable means, such as rivets 25.

In addition to the brace 24, increased strength is provided for the sidestakes by means of the bracket 26 which is preferably formed as twopieces as shown in Figure 2, and has one end riveted to the upper flangeof the channel iron 15 and the other end riveted to the brace 24.

The guide piece 27, better shown in Figure 3, is mounted on top'ofbrackets 26 withits lower flange 28 riveted thereto and with its upperflange 29 secured by rivets between theangles constituting the sidestakes.

From this combination of parts, it will readily appear that the sidestakes are securely braced and in addition, the guide pieces 27 arepositioned in a manner to engage the lower edges of the plow 30, forguiding its course of movement longitudinally of the car.

Shedding surfaces 31 are also provided which extend from the upperflange of the angle iron 15 to the upper edge of the side sills 14, thetwo edges thereof being secured by some suitable means such as rivets.These shedding surfaces extend throughout the length of the car andprovide inclines between the side stakes for assisting the action of theplow in discharging the lading from the car.

In addition to the above describedelements, side walls 32 are providedin'the nature of doors which are pivoted at their upper ends as at 33,so as to swing freely outwardly to entirely displace the side walls andthereby permit the lateral discharge of lading.

For the purpose of strengthening the construction an upper chord 34 ispreferably provided for tying the upper ends of the side stakes. Thedoors or side walls may be of any suitable construction but hereinillustrated as being formed of wooden boards having'bracing memhere 35extending downwardly with their lower ends 36 constructed forcooperation with the door locking mechanism 37.

It is important to observe in this construction that the flooring 18disposed centrally of the car has its upper surface slightly below theplane of the upper surface of the channel irons 15 so that in practice,the channel irons constitute what may be considered a track for theplow.

Furthermore, the lower flanges 28, on the guide pieces 27, are disposedin the same horizontal plane as the upper edges of the channel so thatthe lower corners of the plow may engage there-- with in its dischargingtravel through the car.

The result of this construction is that strong and durable means areprovided for lateral contact with the lower edges of the plow wherebythe plow is maintained against lateral displacement and is guided in itsdischarging travel. Not only this, but the guiding pieces serve to takeup the space between the plow and the side walls so that the side wallsin the present construction may be moved outwardly so as to increase thecapacity of the car, wi nout requiring a modified wider type of plow.

A car of this construction is provided with side walls and are spaced agreater amount than .cars of a similar nature prior to this invention.

In addition, the guiding pieces serve as an element 'in the bracingstructure whereby unusual strength and durability is given to the sidestakes and to the car construction proper.

The slopingfloors or shedding surfaces referredto extend inwardly to apoint adjacent the channels 'so' that the plow, at its broadest portion,over-hangs to some extent, whereby the discharg ing operation is greatlyassisted.

The construction also provides the upper sur faces of the angl irons 15which serve in the nature ofa track way for supporting the weight andtaking the frictional sliding wear of the piow in its movement throughthe cars.

It will be observed that the present invention results in a carconstruction which is simple in formationand inexpensive to manufactureand maintain and yiet'one which is durable and strong in service.

The car of the present invention provides an increased capacity and yetis capable of use with the old and standard type of plows.

I claim: 7

1. A railroad carof the character described having a carbody comprisingan under frame, side stakes attached to the edges of said under frameand longitudinal beams supported on said under'frame and spaced inwardlyfrom said side stakes, bracing means extending between said beams andside stakes and a guide piece for a lading discharge plow having a plowcontact surface spaced inwardly a substantial distance from the innersurface of said side stakes and attached to said side stakes and bracingmeans and occupying the corner space between said side stakes and saidbracing means.

2. A railroad car of the character describedhaving a car body comprisingan under frame,

side stakes attached to-theedgesof said under frame and longitudinalbeams supported on said under frame and spaced inwardly from saidsidestakes, bracing means extending between said beams and side stakes andguide elements attached to said side stakes and bracing means occupyingthe corner space between said side stakes and said bracing means and alading discharging plow for said car of less width by a substantialamount than the distance between opposite side stakes and adapted forguiding 'en- L gagement with said guide elements.

3. A railroad car of the char cter described comprising an under frame,side stakes attached to the edges of said under frame and longitudinalbeams supported on said under frame and spaced inwardly from said sidestakes, a floor for said car supported between said beams and bracingmeans extending between said beams and said side stakes, comprisingguide elements adapted for guiding engagement with the lower edges of alading discharging plow and having plow contacting surfaces spacedinwardly a substantial distance of the car from said side stakes.

4. A railroad car of the character described comprising an under frame,side stakes attached to the edges of said under frame", and longitudinalbeams supported on said under frame and spaced inwardly from said sidestakes, a floor for said car supported between said beams, sheddingsurfaces extending between said beams and the outside edges of said carand bracing means attached between said beams and side stakes comprisinga guide piece adapted for guiding engagement with the lower edges of alading discharging plow and having itsplow contacting surface spacedinwardly a substantial distance of the car from said side stakes.

5. A car of the character described comprising an under frame and sidestakes attached at the side edges of said under frame, longitudinalbeams supported on said under frame and a floor for said car comprisinga horizontal portion between said beams and sloping portions betweensaid beams and the outer edges of said car, a lading discharging plowfor said car of greater width than the horizontal portion of said floorbut of less width by a substantial amount than the distance betweenopposite side stakes and means for guiding engagement with the loweredges of said plow attached to said side stakes and oocupying the spacebetween said side stakes and said plow.

6. A car of the character described comprising an under frame and sidestakes and bracing means extending between said side stakes and underframe, longitudinal beams supported on said under frame, spaced inwardlyfrom said side stakes and other bracing means extending between saidbeams and first named bracing means, and guide elements attached to saidside stakes and other bracing means and occupying the corner spacetherebetween.

'7. A car of the character described comprising an under frame and sidestakes and bracing means extending between said side stakes and underframe, longitudinal beams supported on said under frame, spaced inwardlyfrom said side stakes and other bracing means extending between saidbeams and first named bracing means, and guide elements attached to saidside stakes and other bracing means and occupying the corner spacetherebetween and sloping shedding surfaces extending between said beamsand the outer edges of said under frame.

JOHN o. NEIKIRK.

